In order to make sure Florida Gators-related news stories don't fall through the cracks, once or twice a week The Silver Lining will take on a "news and notes" format to keep you up-to-date with the latest goings on in the world of University of Florida athletics.

Levying "unprecedented" sanctions against Penn State on Monday morning, the NCAA effectively crippled the school's football program by fining it $60 million, handing down a four-year postseason ban, vacating all wins dating back to 1998, severely reducing scholarship amounts and allowing all players to transfer out of the program without being forced to sit out a season. The NCAA also said Monday that other schools will likely be allowed to go over their scholarship limit if they accept Penn State players and that every member of the roster can be contacted immediately by coaching staffs from around the nation.
What Florida will do in response to this decision remains to be seen. The Gators could certainly go after some of the Nittany Lions' 2013 commitments, including four-star tight end Adam Breneman, who committed to Penn State but had a Florida offer (and one from pretty much every other major school). With the entire roster being up for grabs, the Gators could also attempt to bring some playmakers into the fold. In the end, my guess is that UF stands pat and lets the other animals feast at the carcass of PSU.

In a speech he gave to the Florida band one night before it took off for London, England, Gators head football coach Will Muschamp delivered a quick jab about his team's performance on the field in 2011. "I wish last year we played as well as y'all did," he said with a smile before the crowd laughed. "That wasn't supposed to be funny," he added. Muschamp and head soccer coach Becky Burleigh both spoke to the band before they departed, expressing their pride in the program and best wishes for their trip. More than 245 total band and staff members will make the trek across the pond, joining the 32 current and former Florida athletes participating in the games.

Now the ninth overall representative of the Gators to be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, former Florida wide receiver Carlos Alvarez was officially inducted on Saturday after being named a member of the 2012 class in May of last year. A three-year member of the Gators (1969-71), he still holds three school records for career receiving yards (2,563), receptions in a single season (88) and receptions in a game (15). As a player he set a then-UF and SEC record for career receptions with 172 catches in 1971. Alvarez is the third Florida player to be elected to the hall in the last six years, joining running back Emmitt Smith (2006) and linebacker Wilber Marshall. Also members of the hall of fame are coaches Charlie Bachman (1978) and Doug Dickey (2003) as well as players quarterback Steve Spurrier (1986) and defensive ends Dale Van Sickel (1975) and Jack Youngblood (1992).

In California working out with some of his New York Jets teammates, QB Tim Tebow took five days out of his schedule to work with "throwing guru," former minor league pitcher and current USC pitching consultant Tom Hours. According to ESPNLosAngeles.com, Tebow and House looked at his throwing motion with 3D video analysis "used in coordination with traditional drills to break down individual motions to a thousand frames per second and discover small inconsistencies or errors." It is the third-straight offseason that Tebow has met with a throwing consultant to try and improve his motion.

Not all numbers are sacred and some of Florida's freshman basketball players made that clear with their choices for the upcoming season. According to the Gators' newest roster, transfer forward Damontre Harris will wear No. 2, which has not been used since Corey Brewer left the team for the NBA following back-to-back national championships. Freshman point guard Braxton Ogbueze will be wearing No. 11 - just like Erving Walker before him and Taurean Green before that. Freshman Dillon Graham will don No. 12, which has not been worn since sharpshooter Lee Humphrey. The remainder of the number choices include No. 10 for Dorian Finney-Smith, No. 20 for Michael Frazier and No. 25 for DeVon Walker.

Gearing up for a trip to Bristol, CT following SEC Media Days for the second-straight year, Muschamp is set to arrive at ESPN headquarters on Tuesday and participate in what is affectionately known as the "car wash" (participating in interviews and other segments on nearly a dozen of ESPN's outlets). Muschamp's schedule on Tuesday reads as follows (you can follow along with me on Twitter @OnlyGators if you so choose):